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Picture by Laurie from Life on a Bike

What Happens When You Stick With It

During a discussion about our ride over the weekend at Rich Mountain, Joe wrote a post that will inspire beginner riders. He gave me the permission to publish his post word for word here.

Post by epoJoe (you have seen his photography work several times on this site):

Sometimes it's hard to remember that I am a newer rider. Yesterday reminded me. For lack of a better place to put this, I'm going to put my thoughts here. Just to have them in writing. I may cross-post them to SORBA as well...

The first time I was there (in March) we only did Stanley Gap and Flat Creek. The only thing I remember from that ride was that I walked a bit going over Stanley Gap, walked some of the steeps climbing out of Flat Creek and walked almost the entire 2-3 mile climb coming back over Stanley Gap. The ride was 14 miles. it was pure hell. That ride was pretty depressing, but it drove me to realize that if I want to ride in the mountains, I better start learning and riding and pushing myself. I'll never forget that ride. After that ride, I remember sitting at El Agave in Ellijay and Chocolate Girl asking me about my ride experience that day and gently encouraging me by recalling her experience with that trail some 20 years ago. I also remember saying to Tweety that I thought I could never get stronger riding at Big Creek all the time. He told me to that was B.S. and to do intervals in the freeride area. So I did.

Fast forward to yesterday. We did the whole deal out there. Stanley Gap, Green Mountain and Flat Creek. Almost 28 miles. Going into the the ride, I had delusions of being right with my sherpas the entire time. Not quite, but I held my own. Climbing up Stanley, I dabbed a handful of times, ran Concrete Blonde off the trail, and only walked to get in a good position after dabbing. I wasn't too far behind the sherpas when I got to the top. This pattern would hold for much of the ride. I'd fall back a minute or two, then that gap would hold pretty steady. I was satisfied with that.

We crossed over to Green Mountain and had a load of fun going down to the lake. Coming back up out of there was tough and I started to get really nervous. I was tiring fast and I was starving. When I tried to eat I felt like I wanted to puke. I was afraid I was on the verge of bonking and I couldn't stop thinking that we still had to go back over Stanley. The part that killed me last time. Dammit. Again, I was encouraged by a by chocolate girl's gentle brand of tough love, Tweety's no nonsense coaching, RSutton's positivity and Concrete Blonde gently giving me tips from behind as we climbed Aska Road on the way back from Green Mountain to tackle Flat Creek. I had nibbled on a power bar (to keep from puking) on the climb out of Green and when we got to the Aska Trail parking lot, my sherpas gave me some time to collect myself.

Flat Creek was much better. I slowed some to control my heart rate, and I was still entering in to muscle fatigue zone as well as getting dehydrated, but on the slow gentle climb I could still see everyone from time to time. I was doing okay. Down the fun, rocky descent, I got a flat. Filled it up and it held. Rode the entire climb out of flat creek with a similar gap to the front that I had kept most of the day. My flat tire was back at the top and I was gassed again. I asked Raja if he could help with my flat, and of course he was right on it. What a great guy to ride with. Raja is so talented, so strong, so experienced yet so patient and humble. The aren't many people like that, and it's always a breath of fresh air.

At this point, I wanted to quit and I was scared of the climb back over Stanley. I had a gel, some salt caps, and got a snack to nibble on as well. This is where I would lose my sherpas as they did their thing and I did mine. They waited to give me back a bottle I had lost and I saw chocolate girl, giving a little check after she had taken some photos. I began to feel bad, as I did not want to make them wait on me. I didn't see them again until the top of the false summit. I started to get that feeling of never getting off the mountain. I wanted to get off my bike and sleep. I could no longer climb at 90% or more heart rate, so I had to stop a couple times and I walked 4 or 5 steep sections. I was walking as I could see Concrete Blond's blue shirt and pink helmet. This was the false summit. Holy ***! I made it and rode most of it! Much better than last time. I walked probably about a half-mile. Last time I walked about 3. I went from being discouraged to encouraged. One more climbing section to go. Watched the sherpas have some fun a clean a wicked steep section and walked a couple times and knew we were essentially finished. All downhill to the end. I had struggled, but I had made it up the section I had been scared of all day long.

I was so lucky to have five perfect people to share the day with who were nothing but encouraging. If they ever had any regrets for inviting me along, I never knew it. I'm glad I went. It was a challenge for sure, but I made it.

I'll be thinking about every part of that ride and what I can do different. I've feel like I've come a long way since March and I can't wait to do more. I'm looking forward to going back.

Thanks for such a great day.

This is social proof that if you stick with it...you will see results. Many times in life, we give up right before we are about to really see results. This post reminds me to stick with it because you never know when you are going to get that proof that all of your hard work paid off. These moments often come at times you don't expect them to, but when they do...the overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment make it all worth it. In a case like this, you get to share the experience with the people that helped you get there. Just remember...when things seem to get the hardest and you don't think you can make it another step of the way...you are on the verge of making it. Hard work pays off in the most unexpected ways. Stick with it and you'll make it too.

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